Enter your height and weight
What does the body mass index mean?
Now that you have calculated your BMI, you must understand what it means to you. The concept of the body mass index is a ratio that calculates your health by measuring your weight relative to height. Your BMI is an indicator of where you lie on the spectrum from underweight to obese. Those who fall outside the healthy range on the chart may face multiple health challenges now and chronic diseases in the future.
Body mass index formula
Your body weight in pounds divided by your height in inches² x 703 = Body mass index
Weight (lbs) / height in inches² x 703 = BMI
Example: 169 lbs. / (70 in. x 70 in.) x 703 = BMI = 24.24
In this example, this person’s body mass index equals 24.24. Therefore, they would be considered within the normal to healthy weight category.
Limitations of the BMI
There are two limitations to using the body mass index.
First, this measurement doesn’t consider the endomorph body type, where the bone density is heavier and the body structure is broader. For example, I have a friend who has an endomorphic body type. Even though she has a broader frame and is “thick,” she is extremely fit. If you were to look at her, she has a six-pack of abs and is muscular. Therefore, her BMI calculation places her in the obese range, and she is not obese.
Second, this measurement doesn’t take into consideration muscle mass. Muscle weighs more. Therefore, the BMI of more muscular people like my friend and bodybuilders will place them in the overweight to obese range even though they are fit.
Understanding Your BMI
Please look at your calculated BMI number using the chart below.
